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“I think I’ll try one more,” I say. “Cole, can you take a picture of me so I can compare when I’m done?”
He nods, lifting up his phone and snapping the camera. Just as I turn around to walk back into the closet, his voice halts me.
“Oops,” he says blandly. “I accidentally sent it to Dad.”
My stomach plummets to the ground. I whip around to face him. “You’re joking right?”
He smirks. “Nope.”
I place both hands on my hips. “Cole Benjamin Walker, you’d better be joking, or else I might disown you.”
Livvy scowls at him. “Why would you do that?”
He squeezes her thigh. “We both know he deserves it after what he pulled.” He turns to me. “Mom, he invited Livvy out to coffee so he could wrangle information out of her. About you and Stephen. And he did it after I told him to mind his own business.”
I clench my teeth. “I already know he did that. And—” I turn to Livvy “—I’m very sorry that you were put in that position, but your dad is going through a really difficult time right now, Cole.”
“Yes.” Livvy punches his shoulder. “Especially after he spent his birthday alone.”
A chill ripples over my skin. His birthday.
I forgot. How could that have happened?
“He spent it alone?” I ask Cole, my voice brittle. “Why didn’t you go see him?”
He winces. “I forgot. We all forgot. Mason finally remembered a few days ago and texted us.”
Because I forgot to remind them.
I grimace, unable to control the flood of emotions washing over me. Oh God, divorce is hard. Mark was once my whole world, and someday he’ll be akin to a stranger.
He’s already becoming a stranger. December sixth came and went, and I didn’t even notice. A day that once meant so much to me.
Why does the thought make me frantic?
“It’s okay, Mom.” Cole’s voice is gentle. “I don’t think he was upset. He says he doesn’t want to be reminded of how old he is, anyway.”
“And Cole and I went over there on Thursday night,” Livvy says. “Cole made a really nice spaghetti dinner, and I baked a cake.”
“He had a really good time,” Cole says. “I promise.”
The gentleness in his voice makes me realize that warm trickles are running down my cheek. No, I can’t be crying. Not when I’m going to take such a big step tonight.
If we can’t forgive each other, we have to let each other go.
CHAPTER12
Mark
Cole: Mom’s dress for her big date tonight.
Cole: Oops. I meant to send that to Livvy.
I’ve hardly takenmy eyes off the picture of Whitney for the last ten hours since Cole sent it to me.
She looks demurely back at me, shy as usual when photographed. Her eyes are wide and hesitant. That purple dress hangs loosely over her delicate curves.
My angel of a wife.
